May 29, 2014 (Beauce, QC) – The start of the 29th edition of the Tour de Beauce will be on June 11, and throughout the five days of racing until June 15, nearly 140 cyclists from 21 teams will compete for General Classification in this prestigious race for a total distance of 638 kilometers in the Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie and Quebec regions
Cycling enthusiasts will have the chance to attend and witness the exciting start of races in four host municipalities, including St. George, Lac- Mégantic, Quebec and Ste-Justine.
“Each year, the Tour de Beauce welcomes cyclists from around the world to participate in this sporting event of international caliber. The majestic roads of Beauce and surrounding areas are now recognized worldwide by the cycling community, and through the Tour de Beauce,” says Francis Rancourt, Executive Director of the Tour de Beauce. “We are particularly pleased to welcome a record number of teams this year, with 21 teams from nine countries vying for top honors.”
“We also take this opportunity to thank all our partners from the municipal governments, which facilitate road usage for the duration of the Tour de Beauce. The warm welcome we receive annually in different municipalities is remarkable, and provides exceptional tourism showcase for the regions visited,” expresses Francis Rancourt.
The 2014 edition of the Tour de Beauce is marked by the presentation of one less stage that years past, five compared to the previous six stages, as well as the deviation of the finish line at the Mont- Mégantic National Park.
The first stage will take place Wednesday, June 11 in Ste-Justine (196km), and will highlight the strategies of each team as the general classification takes shape.
Thursday, the peloton will face its first challenge. The second stage will showcase climbers with the finish of the race at the top of the difficult climb of Mont-Saint-Joseph, and after more than 150 kilometers in the saddle. In recent years, this stage ended at the top of Mont-Mégantic, but road work forced the deviation of the end of the race. It is slightly shorter than that of recent years, but will prove to be much more difficult with a higher grade. Expect a complete reshuffle of the general classification at the end of this stage.
The gruelling individual time trial race, a solo race with individual rider entering the course every minute, will take place during the third stage, Friday, June 13 in St- Georges, sector St-Jean-de-la-Lande and will run over a distance of 20 km. This time trial stage is usually one that brings a lot of change in the overall standings.
Quebec City will host once again a classic stage of the Tour de Beauce, the fourth on Saturday, June 14. Residents of Quebec City and surroundings areas will have once again the opportunity to witness a traditionally exciting race in the heart of Old Quebec, which borrows several sections of the circuit used by the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, UCI WorldTour stage. This year’s street circuit is 14.4 km.
The champion of the 2014 Tour de Beauce will be crowned Sunday, June 15, after a stage of 125 km contested on an urban circuit of 10.4 km in St-Georges, the central area where cyclists will be accommodated. This stage promises to be just as exciting as the riders will give it their all to climb in the General classification or protect their leaders.
Tour de Beauce 2014 — Stages
– Stage 1 – Desjardins — Wednesday June 11: Ste-Justine /Ste-Justine (196 km)
– Stage 2 – Le Georgesville — Thursday June 12 juin: Lac Mégantic /Parc National du Mont-Mégantic (167 km)
– Stage 3 – Hydro-Québec — Friday June 13: St-Georges (20 km) [Time Trials]
– Stage 4 – Ville de Québec — Saturday June 14: Ville de Québec (130 km) [Urban circuit : 9 tours de 14,4 km]
– Stage 5 – Ville de St-Georges — Sunday June 15: Ville de St-Georges (125 km) [Urban circuit : 12 tours de 10,4 km]
Total distance : 638 km
Tour de Beauce Announces New Sponsors
The Tour de Beauce, in its 29th edition this year, is very proud to count among its major sponsors again this year, Hydro Quebec, Desjardins, Georgesville and the governments of Quebec and Canada. These partners play a key role in the continued success of the Tour de Beauce.
Among the official suppliers, we are pleased to reconnect with the great family of the Tour de Beauce, namely: Thule, iClic, Champion System, Pepsi Alex Coulombe, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, IGA Rodrigue et Filles, St-Georges Toyota and SRAM. These suppliers allow us to maintain the excellent event that the Tour de Beauce has become, and continually improve it by their many products and services they provide.
Media partners are also essential to the smooth operations of the Tour de Beauce and helped greatly in its longevity. They include: Le Soleil, Look Media, EnBeauce.com, COOL 103.5 FM and MIX 99.7.
It is also important to emphasize the excellent collaboration of the public partners, with the host cities of Saint- Georges, Quebec, Ste-Justine, Lac- Mégantic, and the Mont-Mégantic National Park.
The organization also wishes to thank all municipalities along the route, the Sûreté du Québec, the Quebec municipal police and the Ministry of Transport of Quebec, because without them, this premier international event would not be possible.
Finally, it is important not to forget the contributions of many area businesses that support the event as Friends of the Tour de Beauce, as well as all the volunteers who offer their priceless time and services.
140 cyclists representing 21 professional cycling teams from nineteen countries.
The Tour de Beauce, Canada’s top domestic stage race who is celebrating its 29th edition, announced today a peloton that promises to be of high calibre featuring yet again this year some of the best cyclists hailing from 19 different countries.
Tour de Beauce, under sanction 2.2 from the International Cycling Union (UCI) will host teams from Canada, the United States and around the world for a five-day stage race on the roads of the Chaudière-Appalaches, the Eastern Townships and Quebec regions.
The intense competition will feature more than 140 cyclists from 21 professional and development cycling teams, three more teams than last year. During its 28 editions, the Tour de Beauce crowned champions from Canada, the United States, France, Australia, Poland, Ukraine, Spain, the Czech Republic, Moldova and New Zealand.
“The Tour de Beauce remains one of the most respected cycling events on the calendar. Year after year, teams from across North America and Europe make the journey here to participate in the stage race,” commented Francis Rancourt, Executive Director of the Tour de Beauce.
Rancourt added: “And this year is no exception to this rule. We were forced to refuse teams who wanted to race here in Quebec, which is a great problem to have as an organizer. It demonstrates year after year of the particular interest for the Tour de Beauce.”
The two UCI continental teams from Canada will be on the start line, with Garneau-Quebecor and Silber Pro Cycling Team.
Six of the 21 teams are from Canada, seven of the United States and eight from the international, particularly Colombia, Denmark, Ukraine, Sweden, Germany, Australia and Latvia.
Two Quebec regional teams will be present on the starting line, with Norco Bicycles / Premier Tech and Vélosélect. There will also be two other teams from Canada: Team H/R Block of British Columbia, and Ride with Rendall from Ontario.
The International presence will again by very powerful with the presence of the Team Novo Nordisk, the only pro-continental team registered with the UCI.
Also noteworthy is the presence of the always surprising team 5-hour Energy, with Bruno Langlois among its roster, Team SmartStop with Canadian Champion Rob Britton, and Team Optum-Kelly Benefits Strategies.
The Tour de Beauce is organized for the third consecutive year on the eve of Canadian Road Championships, also held by the Corporation du Grand Prix cycliste de Beauce.
2014 Tour de Beauce – Teams
– 4-72 Colombia (COL)
– 5-Hour Energy (USA)
– Alpha Baltic / Unitymarathons.com (LAT)
– Amore Vita Selle SMP (UKR)
– Bike Aid Ride for Help (GER)
– Christina Watches Kuma (DEN)
– Firefighter (SWE)
– Garneau-Quebecor (CAN)
– H/R Block (CAN)
– Hincapie Sportswear Development Cycling Team (USA)
– ISD Continental Team (UKR)
– Jamis Hagens Berman (USA)
– JellyBelly p/b Maxxis (USA)
– Norco Bicycles / Premier Tech (CAN)
– Novo Nordisk (USA)
– Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA)
– Ride with Rendall p/b Biemme (CAN)
– Silber Pro Cycling Team (CAN)
– SmartStop (USA)
– Team Budgetforklifts (AUS)
– Team Veloselect (CAN)
Start List here.